The pressure to look your best on the silver screen is already monolithic. But when said television series is a grand-scale and critically acclaimed historical epic where the male cast has a reputation for exuding raw physicality in every scene, that responsibility to show up in your prime is multiplied tenfold. That, and you’ll be shirtless every time you’re in front of the camera.
Shaka iLembe just rolled out its second season continuing in the footsteps of its much-lauded debut run with a few new faces joining the chiselled ensemble. For the uninitiated, the show traces the origins of its namesake, King Shaka, and his rise to power. Episodes explore the interactions between notable historical figures, from Shaka’s family to his most bitter rivals. There’s intrigue, drama, romance and an abundance of brutal fight scenes. And it’s every bit as cinematic as it should be. Think an inspired-by-the-source material docudrama told with Game of Thrones-esque grandeur.
The show has stood out for its ambitious scale, top-notch performances and gripping narrative. And with a third season in the wings, that magic formula is clearly a winner for the SA-rooted production.
Two new actors enter the world of Shaka iLembe, SA’s sweeping and cinematic historical drama. We sat down with Xolani Khowa and Anele Nene to talk about the grind behind the glory.
Meet the New Faces: Anele Nene and Xolani Khowa
Among the new crop arriving on the Shaka iLembe set were Anele Nene and Xolani Khowa. The former reprises the role of Sikhunyana, son to the king of the Ndwandwe. “I’m more of a Romeo,” says Nene. “I drive the love story. My character is very diplomatic and so instead of running into battle, I’m more like, let’s go to battle mentally.”
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On the other side of the coin you have Khowa playing Ndlela, an efficient and powerful warrior who you’ll see—through the course of the show—rise the ranks to serve as a prominent general in King Shaka’s army. That’s the authenticity of the show, every episode blends history and tightly written fiction to breathe life into these prolific figures. And there’s the raw physical aspect, too. We caught up with the new kids on the block to find out how they put heavy metal to work and arrive on set ready to match the show’s colossal proportions.
The Warrior: Xolani Khowa’s Transformation
Khowa, 30, had auditioned for Shaka iLembe during its maiden run but hadn’t made the cut, he says: “I was very skinny”. But that rejection seemed to spark his engine because—“Something started burning inside!” —and with the guidance of his brother, he began hitting the gym like clockwork. Sessions have morphed from experimental capers into three-hour slogs, but he says the muscle-making journey has been an easy transition. “It came naturally to me,” he adds. “I think it’s easy now; it’s a way of life.”
By the time he auditioned for the second season, he’d managed to bulk up to a brawny 93kg and he landed the part. He doesn’t feel like he has to ramp up his workouts in the weeks leading up to the moment the cameras finally roll: “This is how I look from Monday to Friday. I gym almost every day,” he says.
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His lifting itinerary consists primarily of compound lifts; he counts the squat as one of the most efficient tools in his armoury. And for such a physical performance—note that Ndlela is meant to be an extremely intimidating figure—keeping his iron exterior in fighting form is crucial to the role. (After all, he’s got to stand out from his similarly buff co-stars.) “Success meant having a clear plan, and the grit to stick with it,” says Khowa.
Training Like a Warrior on Set
But while he showed up rearing to go on set, there would be new challenges. Roles in Shaka iLembe can be physically demanding to say the least. “You’ll have days where you’re fighting with a shield and spear, then your fists and then you’re running long distances,” he says. Anyone familiar with TV and film productions knows these scenes are rarely wrapped up in a single take.
“It’s also very dusty [where we shoot],” adds Khowa. “Then there’s the wind. It can be very draining.”
While Khowa had muscles on tap, his cardio base needed an upgrade. The show’s training team put him through his paces, having him run long miles and notch lengthy sessions in the pool. It took two weeks of hard graft before Khowa felt confident in his internal battery, he says.
@menshealthza Last night’s epic #TheBattleOfGqokliHill and #ShakaILembeS2 had us hooked! ⚔️ @Anele Nene races to warn the king, while @Xolani Xolo’s Ndlela shows serious power. 💥 See how they train for these roles in our Trainer Special Edition, out now. Grab your copy and get inspired! 🔥 #TrainerSpecial #MensHealthSA ♬ original sound – TRNDZA
The fight choreography was also another obstacle. Watch any brawl in the show, and you’ll notice every element is carefully orchestrated giving these violent exchanges an almost dance-like feel. And those scenes are the product of hours spent with the stuntmen learning to wield weaponry, swing fists and take hits like a champ. Khowa’s character, as the one of the most renowned warriors of his time, alongside Lemogang Tsipa as Shaka himself, is almost always in the thick of it.
While most guys can only dream of being in the sort of shape Khowa is in, he’s not ready to rest on his laurels. The physical “I-can-move-mountains” trait of his character is core to having the right presence on screen. And as the character grows more powerful in the narrative, Khowa wants to reflect this evolution with his own transformation.
To accomplish this, he plans to add another 7kg of lean muscle before the next season starts shooting. And at an already sizeable 93kg of minimal-body fat percentage, that’s no mean feat. “But I want to get to 100kg,” he says. “As my character grows I want to show that with my own growth.”
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He’ll rely on the same system that helped him land the part to begin with: heavy lifts and a no-excuses, every-single-damn-day workout schedule. (At the time of going to print, Khowa racks up 160kg for his squats.) Did we mention he lifts for three hours every day, even if that means waking up at dawn to sneak in sets before shooting? But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“All the hard work really paid off,” he says. “All I can say is I feel grateful for this opportunity, to be part of something so big. It’s beyond excitement, it’s just always gratitude.” He’s married, has a kid, landed his dream job and is in the best shape of his life—he couldn’t ask for anything else.
The Prince: Anele Nene’s Approach
While Nene’s role veers less action, more intrigue; that doesn’t mean the actor doesn’t feel the same pressure to push his body to its limits. The 29-year-old also works out religiously, to the point that he’s found himself “crashing out” on more than one occasion. “That was my body’s way of saying you’re going overboard,” says Nene.
Getting and staying strong isn’t a simple balancing act, especially when you have on-set commitments for most hours of the day. “I have to eat six meals a day [to grow muscle],” he says. “And often we wrap at midnight and it’s another hour’s drive to get back to my apartment. Then you have to prepare for the next day rehearsing lines, get enough time to recover and wake up early to hit the gym before you need to be back on set.”
When Nene first found out he’d landed a role on the show, he took a look at the cast and thought, “Man, these guys are big. I, too, must also look intimidating”, and he got to work engineering the sort of physique that wouldn’t look out of place amongst the sculpted ensemble.
While he’d always been a fit guy, his efforts in the gym intensified. Between logging gruelling sessions and wolfing down those prescribed six meals of muscle fuel, he researched the history of his character and tribe. The goal was to embody every aspect of Sikhunyana; historically, psychologically and physically.
Method Acting Meets Physical Training
Finding out what worked for his body was a process of trial and error. “I realised quickly that I can’t take pre-workout,” he says. “I try things and see how my body responds to them. It’s the same for my workouts and meals.”
He’s created his own programme, one that he tinkers with often to make sure he’s making the most of the precious seconds he has to build on his already impressive base. He’s also learned it’s not just what you do that matters, but when you do it. That means taking his magnesium supps at night for deep, effective shuteye; drinking salt water during the day to top up his electrolytes; and timing every meal so that he has energy when he needs it most.
If you watch the second season, you’ll also notice that Nene’s body can change from one episode to the next. His commitment to accurately conveying Sikhunyana’s internal and external struggles also extends to his physical exterior. Say, for example, his character has to trek across the country for three weeks, while we—as an audience—get a quick cut and narrated exposition. Off frame the actor has dropped his weight drastically to communicate the immense toll of this brutal journey. It’s a personal commitment to authenticity that echoes the show’s overall MO of capturing a long-gone but profoundly important parts of history with respect, reverence and reality.
“Losing the weight was something I wanted to do,” says Nene, pointing out that the show’s trainer and nutritionist weren’t exactly fans of his overnight transformations. “But I think it’s important to show what the character is going through emotionally.” It’s something we celebrate in big name method actors like Christian Bale after all, and Nene’s got the same commitment to realness in spades.
While he might be the “Romeo” for now, anyone familiar with the history knows that there are some twists and turns ahead for Nene’s character. “I’m tired of being a lover boy,” he jokes, sharing that working with the stunt team for the handful of fight scenes he’s had in his script so far have been some of his favourite days on set.
But he says being able to move flexibly (and with the agile grace of a veteran warrior) while looking ultra “jacked” hasn’t been easy. “It’s really a test to do both,” he says. “But when I get tired, I often think about something [American author and motivational speaker] David Goggins says: ‘Your mind quits way before your body does’. That reminds me I can keep pushing.”
What’s Next for Sikhunyana and Ndlela
What’s clear is these fresh faces of the Shaka iLembe cast have to be the full package. They need to act at a top level, embody the fighting spirit of warriors and find ways to evolve even when they look like they’re at their peak.
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There’s plenty of weight on their shoulders, often even when it’s just a loaded barbell at 4am. But as the show strives for new cinematic highs, the pair—Nene and Khowa alike—are ready to embrace the mental and physical challenges that come with these lofty ambitions.
Where to Watch Shaka iLembe Season 2
Shaka iLembe’s second season premiered in June on Mzansi Magic but you can play catch-up on all the episodes on Dstv Stream, and likely binge them, on Showmax.
*Anele Nene and Xolani Khowa were profiled as part of a feature that appeared in the July/Aug 2025 issue of Men’s Health SA
